Istanbul Ataturk Airport will serve for repairs and cargo after the opening of the €10.2 billion ($11 billion) Istanbul New Airport next year, according to the online edition of Istanbul’s Daily Sabah.
The publication says the news comes as many are asking whether the gateway would be closed down once the third airport opens – which is set to be one of the world’s biggest.
The State Airports Authority tells the Daily Sabah it will not be closed completely after the opening of the new airport as major investments in infrastructure have been made at Ataturk. Among aviation services will be individual cargo operations.
Istanbul New Airport operator and developer IGA Airport Operation says it hopes to commence operations at the new six runway hub in the first quarter of 2018.
The project includes big plans for cargo; in the first phase IGA plans to build a cargo centre over an area of 1.4 million square metres and expand to 1.6 million in the future.
The annual reversible cargo capacity for the first phase will by 5.5 million tonnes, with an area of expansion up to six million tonnes in later phases.
IGA previously told Air Cargo Week that there will be space for 30 widebody freighters to park simultaneously.
The cargo city includes bonded warehouses, agency buildings, customs offices and operations offices, while banks, test laboratories and parking will be available for employees.
